Painter&#39;s ladder.



A-. B. THOMPSON.

PAINTERS LADDER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28, 1907. RENEWED JULY 17, 1908.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

n ll WITNESSES INVENTOR Attorney 5 rm: NORRIS PETERS cm, WASHINGTON, n. c.

A. B. THOMPSON. PAINTER/S LADDER APPLICATION FILED 111113.28, 190?. RENEWED JULY 17, 1908.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

' [NVENTOR WITNESSES RRIs PETERS c 0-, wAsH THE no rare.

'ALONZO B. THOMPSON, OF INKSTER, NORTH DAKOTA.

PAINTERS LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented. Feb. 9, 1909.

npplication filed March 28, 1907, Serial No. $65,114:. Renewed July 17, 1908. Serial No. 444,115.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALoNzo B; THoMrsoN,

a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to painters ladders, and it aims to provide a device-of that class which. is I not only extensible lengthwise, but is also capable of bodily movement upon a portable horizontal track, both movements being effected by the painter while stationed upon the ladder,,so that it is possible for" him, when the track has been properly positioned, to operate upon an increased area, and to run the movable section of the ladder upwards or downwards upon the relatively stationary section at will, and at the same time adjust-the position of the ladderxas ,a' wholebodily upon the track. i

The invention briefly described, comprises a portable horizontal track, and a ladder movable therealong, the ladder comprising a lower sectionwhich is relatively stationary, and an upper section which is movable vertically thereupon, andis provided with a pair of spaced windlasseshaving cable conits preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which. like parts are designated by corresponding reference numerals in the several views,

Of the said drawings :Figure 1 is a front elevation of. a ladder constructed in accordance with the present invention. I Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through V Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the devices carried by the cables of the lower windlass. Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the brackets securedto the stationary ladder section and carryingthetrack rollers.

In Fig. 2 the connecting brackets'between the ladder sections are shown partly in section, to expose the rollers carried thereby.

111 its practical embodiment the invention includes a portable track and a ladder movable bodily therealong. The track itself consists of a horizontal rail 7 which is secured at the opposite ends to a pair of L-shaped brackets 8 carried by a pair of uprights 9 arrangedin spaced relation to each other. To decrease the cost of construction, the rail is formed of ordinary gas-piping, and the free ends of the brackets 8 to project into slots formed therein. 1

The ladder comprises a lower section 10 which is relativelystationary, and an upper section 11, which is vertically adjustable thereon, the two sections thus forming what is commonly known as an extensible ladder.

Each side member of the section 10 carries at its lower end a bracket 12, provided with a pair of grooved rollers 13 spaced slightly away from each other to permit the passage of the track rail 7 therebetween. The brackets and rollers thus serve as the connecting means between the ladder and the track upon which the ladder travels. The side members of the ladder sections are con nected with each other by upper and lower brackets 14, and 15, each of which is likewise provided with a guide roller 16, as shown in Fig. 2. The brackets 14; are secured to the sides of the section 10 at the upper ends thereof, and extend transversely across the sides of the section 11, and the rollerslt carried by said brackets are in contact with the front edges of the sides of the last-mentioned sect-ion; the brackets 15 are fastened to the lower ends of the sides of the section 11 and extend in like manner transversely across the sides of the section 10, whose rear edges are in contactwith the rollers carried by the last-mentioned brackets. The movable ladder section is further provided with an upper Windlass 17, having connected at opposite ends to the rungs of the ladder. To the Windlass 17 one end of a of the stationary ladder section. Interme diate its ends, the cable passes around a pulv ley 25 carried by a pulley block secured to 1: one of the lower rungs of the movable ladder section. Rotation of the Windlass 17 in one direction or the other will therefore raise or lower the movable ladder section correspondingly. The movable ladder section is held in adjusted position by means of a hook 26, which is secured to the side member of said ladder section adjacent the operating handle 18, and is adapted to be engaged therewith.

To facilitate the movement of the upper ladder section along the surface to be op erated upon, its sides are provided attheir upper ends with a pair of brackets 27 swiveled thereto, each carrying a roller.

Each of the drums 20 and 21 has secured thereto one end of a cable 28 which is passed intermediate its ends, over a pulley 29 disposed in an opening 30 formed through the i corresponding side of the ladder section 10, the opposite end of the cable being fastened to the upper end of such side, 2 shown in Fig. 2, the cables being oppositely wound with respect to each other. Each of the cables 28 carries on its outer stretch an attaching device consisting of a strap or bracket 31 carrying a pulley 32, and a spike which latter is adapted to be driven into the surface to be painted, at some distance from the'sides of the ladder, as shown in Fig. 1. Therefore, when it is desired to move the ladder bodily in one direction or the other along the track rail, it is only necessary to rotate the corresponding drum to wind the cable thereon, when the ladder will, be forced along the rail in the desired direction, the cable being unwound from the opposite drum. The spike of each attaching device is connected to the bracket portion thereof by a chain or other flexible element.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the ladder may be moved bodily upon the track rail in one direction or the other without necessita ing the descent of the painter therefrom, and that the length of the latter may be adjusted as desired by raising or lowering the movable ladder section, which operation may likewise be efiectcd by the painter stationed upon the lower ladder section, it being assumed that both windlasses are so positioned upon the movable ladder section as to be within his reach.

The uppermost rung of the movable ladder section may, if desired, be provided with a shelf 3% upon which the paint-pot and brushes may be placed.

While the invention is designed primarily for the use of painters, it will be obvious that it may be used with equal facility in libraries, stores, and similar places.

Further description of the invention, its method of operation, and its advantages are deemed unnecessary in view of the fore going.

What is claimed, is:

1. The combination, of a portable horizontal track adapted to be positioned upon the ground; a ladder slidably mounted thereon and comprising an upper and a lower section adjustably connected together; means carried by said ladder for effecting a ertical movement of the upper section upon the lower section; a separate means carried by the ladder for effecting a bodily movement thereof in one direction or the other upon the track, both of said means being operable by the occupant of the ladder, to vary the area to be operated thereupon.

2. The combination, of a portable track adapted to be positioned upon the ground, comprising a pair of spaced uprights, an n-shaped bracket secured to each upright, and a slotted horizontal rail carried by said brackets, the free ends of the latter extending into the corresponding slots in the rail: a ladder slidably mounted upon the rail and consisting of an upper and a lower section adjustably connected together, each side member of the lower section being provided at its lower end with a pair of spaced rollers between which the rail extends; means carried b" said ladder for effecting a vertical movement of the upper section upon the lower section; and separate means carried by the ladder for effecting bodily movement f in one direction or the other upon ac track, both of said me in; being operable bv the occupant of the ladder, to vary the :1: ea to be operated thereupon.

3.. The combination of a portable hori zontal track adapted to be positioned upon the and", a ladder slidable thereon and compri i an upper and a lower section adjustably connected together; a pair of rotatable drums carried by the ladder; a separate flexible clement adapted to be wound upon each of said drums and connected at one end thereto, and at the other end to the ladder; a bracket slidably engaged with each flexible element intermediate the :sds thereof; a spike connected with each ell and adapted for attaclm'ient to the l cc to be operated upon; means for rotating said drums, to wind one of said flexible ements and unwind the other, to force the ladder bodily along said track; and means for effecting a vertical movc ment of the upper section upon the lower section, both of said means being operable ly the occupant of the ladder.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

ALONZO B. THOMPSON.

Witnesses T. YV. Knnwnoimiv, E. F. GALLAGHER.

i ii fl 

